Signors ox



Patented Mar. 24, 192 5.

UNITED STATES -P. .'r1a: 1- 'r oFn-cs. I

KARL MARX, OF BERLIN-HARLEM, AND EANS IIESCHE, Oil? DESSAU, GERMZANY, AS- SIGNOR ACTIEN GESELLSCHAIFT. F 'U'R ANILIN EAIBRIKATION, 01 3" BERLIN.

msmifincrmo SEED GRAIN.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may cancer-m Be it known that we, KARL MARX- and HANS WESCHE, citizens of the German 'Republic, residing at Berlin-Dahlem, Ger- 5 many, and Dessau in Anh., Germany, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements Relating to Disinfecting-Seed of which the following isa specification.

.It is known that organic mercury compounds soluble in alkali are usefuh for disinfecting seed grain. The salts of hydrocyanic acid and of hydroferrocyanic acid on the other hand have no fungicidal effect and 7 grain treated with these compounds shows a remarkable reduction of the germinating power.

According to this invention the fungicidal effect of the mercury organic compounds v which are used in analkaline solution may be greatly increased by addition of a salt of an acid containing the cyanogen group, for instance of the hydrocyanio acid, hydroferrocyanic acid, etc. If, forinstance, the spores of TilZet iw trticz' are treated with an alkaline solution of 0.25 per cent strength of mercuric para-cres0l the spores. are not destroyed completely after treatment for. an

' hour. If, however, the fungicide contains a for instance 100 parts of the sodium com pound of mercuric para-cresol, and Y parts of potassium ferrocyanide 'the'spores are rain,

Application filed .Tune 27, 1924. Serial No. 722,877.

destroyed quickly when treated under the same conditions.

otassium ferrocya nidewithlike result. X solution of potassium ferrocyanide or of potassium cyanide of g1 per cent strength does not have any dis- Wheat and barley which had beentfeated with a solution of mercuric para-cresol' germinated after-ten days only to the extent of 94 to 95 per cent whereas wheat and barley treated with the new mixture germinatedto 99'per cent.

"What we claim is- 1.'A method of disinfecting seed grain which consists in treating the grain with a miiitu're of a mercury organic compound and a salt of an inorganic acid containing the cyanogen group.

2. Mixtures for disinfecting grain for sowing containing a mercury organic compound and a" salt of an inorganicacid containing the cyanogen group.

In testimony whereof-we affix our signatures in presence of two. witnesses.

KARL MARX.

DR. HANS ,WESCHE. Witnesses:

43111201211 FRIoKs, WILLY Sman.

under like conditions .to the extent of 98 Potassium cyanide may -be substituted for the 

